How accurate is Birdsong's bird identifier?

It runs Google's Perch, a research-grade acoustic model covering nearly 15,000 species. When a call is ambiguous, we say so honestly and let you record a second clip to confirm, rather than guessing.

Is my recording stored?

No. Your audio is used to identify the bird in the moment and isn't saved to our servers. The birds you confirm are kept as cards in your own field journal; the recordings themselves are not.

Is the bird identifier free?

Yes — identify birds every day for free, no account required. Birdsong Pro ($3.99/mo or $39.99/yr) unlocks unlimited IDs, full field guides, your growing collection, and shareable Field Report cards.

Do I need an account or internet to identify a bird?

You'll need a connection to identify, since the AI runs in the cloud. No account is needed to try it — sign in with Google or email to save your field journal and sync it across devices.

Birdsong field guide

African Blue Flycatcher

Elminia longicauda

A striking, cerulean-blue monarch flycatcher known for its exceptionally long, graduated tail and energetic foraging style. It is a common and conspicuous inhabitant of well-watered wooded environments across sub-Saharan Africa.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched 'tsee-tsee-tsee' and a soft, jumbled, squeaky warbling song.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / --:--

Rec. Frank Lambert · SenegalCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

Though named a flycatcher, it belongs to the family Stenostiridae, or fairy-flycatchers, which are more closely related to tits and sylviid warblers.
It has a characteristic habit of constantly fanning and wagging its tail from side to side to flush out insects from foliage.
Both sexes are plumage-monomorphic, meaning males and females share the same vibrant azure-blue color and crested head.
The nest is a remarkably neat, tiny cup made of moss and spider webs, often decorated with lichen to camouflage it against a branch.
It is highly social and frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks, acting as an active hunter in the mid-to-upper canopy.

Habitat

Gallery forests, riparian woodlands, moist savannas, and lush gardens with dense foliage.

Range

Widespread across West, Central, and East Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to Malawi.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Dusky Crested FlycatcherElminia nigromitrata White-bellied Crested FlycatcherElminia albiventris White-tailed Blue FlycatcherElminia albicauda White-tailed Blue FlycatcherElminia albicauda White-tailed Crested FlycatcherElminia albonotata

Heard a African Blue Flycatcher?

Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.

Identify a bird by its song